England v Macedonia
UEFA European Championship Qualifying Group E
5pm, Sat 7 October 2006
Old Trafford, Manchester
Steve McClaren's England Record - Click here
04 October 2006
VIDEO: Gary Neville press conference
Gary Neville explains how England need to be fully prepared when they take on Macedonia on Saturday.
Flexibility seems to be the buzz word in the England camp as The Three Lions put the final touches on their preparations for Macedonia.

With most of the build-up to England’s Euro 2008 qualifier surrounding what formation Steve McClaren might employ against the eastern Europeans, the Head Coach and Gary Neville, his most senior player, stressed the importance of being able to play a number of systems.

The experienced right-back, whose ability to slot in at centre-half is just another example of England’s chameleon-like capability to adapt their style of play, is pleased that McClaren is trying out new methods.

"I’m comfortable with the idea of flexibility," said Neville, a veteran of 82 caps.

"It’s only prudent for him [McClaren] to know he can play a different system if there are difficulties arising in a game tactically. It’s something that happened under Glenn Hoddle and Terry Venables."

Neville added that the best teams need to be able to start matches in different formations, but also be comfortable changing during games should the need arise.

"It’s only prudent for a manager at the top level to be able to know your players can adapt to different formations, either within a game or from game-to-game," he said.

As for which formation the capacity Old Trafford crowd is likely to see England line-up in, both Neville and McClaren remained tight-lipped.

"We’ve had two sessions working on a 3-5-2, using different personnel," said the Head Coach, whose tactical acumen was the prime reason for Middlesbrough’s superb UEFA Cup run last season, particularly the breathtaking quarter and semi finals.

"I have always said it’s a system we can go to. I think we’ve got the players to do it. I’m confident and very comfortable with what I saw, the players were, and it’s something we may use in the future.

"We will try different things," he added. "We won’t be static in our formations. We can play 4-4-2, we proved that. We’ve played three games with it, won three, scored ten goals and conceded none. Also during games we need to change, you may see it this weekend."

Switching from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 would require an additional centre-half but in John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher, Ledley King and Neville, McClaren is fortunate to be blessed with some of the best defenders in Europe.

"I have always talked about being flexible."

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